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Major Drawing

My art is a tool for understanding and interpreting the world around me.

Experimentation and Exploration

The drawing impulse is almost as old as humankind. It is a global art-making practice and tool for understanding and interpreting the world around us. It contains timeless possibilities. You'll make physical art using your hands, mind, and digital tools.

Why Drawing at CIA?

A student is talking at the opening of Ready, Set, Relay!

Role of the Artist as Producer

There are so many more ways to engage with the larger world beyond the realm of the gallery or museum. During your junior year, you’ll explore various models of artistic production including performer, activist, curator and provocateur. You and your peers will end the semester with a capstone project, often a group exhibition, where you learn how to curate, market and engage with partners.

Student Experience

Julissa Bruno is in her studio working on a piece on the wall.

CIA is such a community! I love how close I feel to my peers and instructors because of our small class groups, encouraged collaboration, and physical proximity in the studios.

— Julissa Bruno ’25

My favorite learning moment is understanding how to talk about my work. Critiques, midyears, finals, and artist statements were all sources of exploring ways to improve talking about my work - where I get my inspiration from, how certain artists relate to my work, and what kinds of media influence me.

— Danielle Larson ’24

I have gained so much confidence and knowledge within my artist practice and have been given endless opportunities to grow my professional experience. The professors and the courses they teach within the drawing department make such an impact on myself as an artist and human every single day.

— Sam Vacca ’26

Amani Williams ’21 is attending the School of Visual Arts in NYC to receive her MFA in Fine Arts.

Chi-Irena Wong ’20 has done a lot of public projects in Cleveland, including an AsiaTown Cleveland mural and ArtBox.

Edward Valentin-Lugo ’19 is the Learning Center Media Coordinator at JumpStart Inc., a venture development organization providing capital, services and connections to help entrepreneurs grow.

Mike Meier ’10 is an Assistant Professor of Painting at CIA. He teaches painting and other classes in the visual arts department. He received his MFA in Fine and Studio Art from Washington University in St. Louis.

Meet Faculty

Sarah Kabot

Professor

Kabot’s work has been shown nationally and abroad at institutions including The Suburban (IL), SPACES Gallery (OH), Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit (MI), the Akron Museum of Art (OH), the…

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Amber Kempthorn

Assistant Professor

Amber Kempthorn explores time and nostalgia through drawing. Her work has been exhibited across the U.S. and was included in the inaugural Front International Cleveland Triennial for Contemporary Art and…

Major Drawing

Experimentation and Exploration

Why Drawing at CIA?

Role of the Artist as Producer

Student Experience

Meet Faculty

Sarah Kabot

Amber Kempthorn

Student Work

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